This fall was a special time of helping to facilitate conferences in three different Buddhist regions of Russia (Buryatia, Tuva, and Kalmykia). These conferences were very powerful in helping to understand how Tibetan Buddhism and Shamanism affect the way people view things such as the world, people, sin and the good news of Jesus. They also proved to be a powerful catalyst for stirring up motivation and love for getting this good news out!
Before the three conferences, Leif was involved with a special time for leaders from these different regions. It was a wonderful time to share stories of what God is doing in each region and what work is left to do. Everyone was encouraged by the chance to talk with others who are living in a similar cultural context. We hosted a couple of these leaders at our house before they flew back home.
The kids were very flexible during the week we hosted the Ulan-Ude conference. We did homeschooling a couple of days at the church so that I could help in the kitchen. Also, we did things like pick up lost luggage from the speakers when it finally showed up at the airport a week after they first arrived. =)
I thought this was a fun selfie that Leif took at one point. =)
One of the seminars offered at the conference was on music. People divided into several groups and wrote new songs with Buryat words and tunes. At the Ulan-Ude conference, one group wrote a song for Psalm 91. This was incredibly powerful, especially as this portion of the Bible hasn't yet been translated into Buryat. After the conference, a group has been meeting weekly to continue writing new songs. These songs are already a great encouragement to Buryat believers and a bright light to others. It is neat to think of what God will continue to do!!
I liked helping Lena and Adriana in the kitchen. Lena had very ambitious and delicious meals on the menu each day, and they always turned out amazing!
Everyone enjoyed the meals
Each day, we needed to make quick trips to the store for things like more tea, potatoes, and bread. On this day, the kids and I got some chips to share with others. =)
On the last day of the conference, there was a special time of serving each other, writing and drawing vision that God has given and praying for people in our lives and for the unreached peoples of Tibetan Buddhist background throughout the world.
Right after dinner on the last day of the Ulan-Ude conference, we whisked Leif off to the train station as he continued on with the group of people putting on the conferences. We felt sad to see him go and at the same time, super-supportive of why he was going. That made it a little easier for the next couple of weeks needing to stoke the furnace and get water at the well while he was gone. =)
Here are a couple of pictures from the other conferences.
Dave and Leif also used this travel time to talk with pastors and church leaders in these regions to see what work is left to do to reach these unreached people groups, what opportunities there are for serving and to see if there are ways we can help in this work.
There are so many beautiful places and people in Russia!
One night some people from one of the churches treated the trainers to dinner in a yurt restaurant. They encouraged the guys to put on Tuvan national attire and take a picture in it. Leif's turned out pretty great. =)
The fruit from these conferences is already visible and far reaching. It's so encouraging!
